Downtown here they are opening a new "Challenger Learning Center." It houses an IMAX theatre, planetarium, and other spacey activity things. Through word of mouth (mom's friend at wife's jewelry party...), we were told to show up, and that it'd be cool. It turns out that it was for friends and family of 2 of the universities' colleges of engineering.



So we saw an IMAX movie about the MIR space station, and a female American astronaut who spent some time there.

Then we went into a planetarium (which I've never done). This planeterium is like no other, in that it's all digital, and doesn't contain a pit. There are 6 projectors, and it's 50' across. Cool monster Dolby 5.1. They outlined galaxies, Mars's surface, and Jupiter's moons. Very cool experience.



Anyways, it was cool. They've already had people from as far as 200 miles away bring students to experience it. neato.

 

Planetariums are way cool, I haven't been to one in much too long.



J

 

the only bad part was that they didn't have seats in the planetarium yet, so they had these dinky folding chairs...aching neck...but it was still amazing

 

you shoulda used it to bust some heads!

 

I think I seen that IMAX over the summer at the planitarium in NYC,

or was it at the IMAX at the Aeronautic Museam here on Long Island?



It was cool, I think all those domes are set up the same.

Now I remember, I seen space station one at the museam, and

at the planitarium was the other thing with Tom Hanks narrating, if

you ever seen the movie KPAX thats the one Im talking about, thats the one in in NYC.

 

the planetarium program I saw was narrated by Laurence Fishburne (sp?)...very neato

 

Our schools is one of 3 in Texas to actually house a planetarium. It is alright. However what you talk about sounds cool. I went to Nasa to go see the John Glenn Space Shuttle flight and toured the whole area. Their is alot of stuff down their that is pretty neat. Prices aren't bad and you leanr while having fun! I want to go back so badly!!